United Airlines will require its 67,000 U.S. employees to get vaccinated against Covid by Oct. 25 or risk termination, a first for major U.S. carriers that will likely ramp up pressure on rivals.
The said airline is the first major airline requiring workers to get vaccinated against Covid-19, joining the growing list of companies to mandate shots as the delta variant fuels a nationwide surge in infections.
Company leaders at United called it a matter of safety and cited “incredibly compelling” evidence of the effectiveness of the vaccines.
“We know some of you will disagree with this decision to require the vaccine for all United employees,” CEO Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart told employees Friday. But, the executives added that “the facts are crystal clear: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated.”
United Airlines will require its 67,000 U.S. employees to get vaccinated against Covid by Oct. 25 or risk termination, a first for major U.S. carriers that will likely ramp up pressure on rivals.
The said Airlines is the first major airline requiring workers to get vaccinated against Covid-19, joining the growing list of companies to mandate shots as the delta variant fuels a nationwide surge in infections.
Company leaders at United called it a matter of safety and cited “incredibly compelling” evidence of the effectiveness of the vaccines.
“We know some of you will disagree with this decision to require the vaccine for all United employees,” CEO Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart told employees Friday. But, the executives added that “the facts are crystal clear: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated.”
Here’s an excerpt from CNBC report:
United Airlines will require its 67,000 U.S. employees to get vaccinated against Covid-19 by no later than Oct. 25 or risk termination, a first for major U.S. carriers that will likely ramp up pressure on rivals.
United’s requirement is one of the strictest vaccine mandates from a U.S. company and one that includes employees who interact regularly with customers like flight attendants and gate agents.
United Airlines employees must upload proof that they received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose five weeks after federal officials give full approval to them or by Oct. 25, whichever is first, the executives said. Exceptions will be made for certain health issues or religious reasons, United said.
The mandate does not apply to regional airlines that fly shorter routes for United.
Many of United’s employees have already reported they have been vaccinated, including more than 90% of pilots and 80% of flight attendants, according to company officials. United didn’t disclose the company’s overall vaccination rate.
Many of United’s employees have already reported they have been vaccinated, including more than 90% of pilots and 80% of flight attendants, according to company officials. United didn’t disclose the company’s overall vaccination rate.
Each employee will have to send an image of their vaccine card to the company. Those who don’t will be terminated, with exemptions granted only for religious or health reasons, officials said.
Employees who are already vaccinated or do so by Sept. 20 will get an extra day of pay, according to the memo from Kirby and Hart.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19. With infections surging around the country and vaccination rates sluggish, more and more companies are taking matters into their own hands. Healthcare providers are among the earliest adopters of vaccine mandates, given the nature of the profession. Now tech giants like Microsoft, Facebook, Google and Adobe are all instituting policies that require employees to show proof of vaccination before returning to the office, while Morgan Stanley, the Washington Post and Tyson Foods, one of the nation’s largest meat processors, are doing the same. While there are legal provisions for vaccine mandates, it is a relatively untested area of law and they potentially expose companies to costly litigation and employees leaving if they do not comply.
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Sources: The Gateway Pundit, USA Today, Forbes, NBC News, CNBC